POLICE are looking at a possible link between a sex attack on a Mold teenager and a serious assault on a young Bethesda mum.

And detectives have taken the unusual step of naming the man they want to interview.

He is Geoffrey Nuttall, 44, from the Greater Manchester area who police describe as dangerous.

They are advising the public not to approach him.

Detectives have issued pictures of Nut-tall, who is said to be adept at changing his image and is thought to have been shopping in charity shops.

Police searches were carried out in homes throughout Wigan this week in the hunt for Nuttall.

It is also believed he may be linked to a number of house burglaries in south Denbighshire in recent weeks.

Several caravans in that area were also raided at the time, but police ruled out any link with a major search undertaken near a quarry in Llanarmon yn Ial on Wednesday of last week.

On the morning of Tuesday, June 21, a man barged his way into the mum's home in Bethesda and tried to strangle her in front of her three-year-old son.

She managed to fight him off and he later fled in a white car.

Police said there was 'a sexual motive' to the attack.

Two days later, an 18-year-old woman was grabbed from behind and subjected to a serious sexual assault close to the roundabout at the end of the A494 Mold by-pass at the bottom of Gwernymynydd hill.

Her attacker, who was dressed as a jogger, pushed her to the ground and assaulted her before running away towards Gwernymynydd leaving her traumatised.

The police helicopter and an armed response unit were called in to try and trace the offender and the area was cordoned off for forensic examination.

Officers still want to hear from anyone who may have witnessed the attack or saw anything suspicious and are particularly keen to speak to an elderly man who passed on a motorised scooter.

Detective Inspector Neil McAdam, who is leading the Bethesda investigation, said: 'We do consider him to be dangerous and we ask members of the public to be vigilant and not to approach him, but report any sightings to us immediately.

'We believe, in the past, he may have masqueraded as a hill-walker, wearing a hat or a pair of binoculars.

'We also believe he may be driving a blue Rover 416, registration H905 EUE, which was stolen in the early hours of Sunday, July 3, just off the A5 near Corwen.'

Nuttall is white, 5ft 10in, slim but with broad shoulders. He changes his appearance often, but frequently wears glasses.

Officers believe he buys his clothes from charity shops, and may be living rough or in a car.

A distinct 13in Ikea kitchen knife, which had a blue handle, was taken from the Bethesda victim's house and police are asking for anyone who may have seen that knife to come forward.

Anyone with information is asked to call a special police line on 01492 511230 or contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.